The following prayer points are in a secure format to protect missionaries in sensitive locations. This means that some names have been removed, so they are best read in conjunction with the CMS Prayer Diary which is available from your local branch.
January 2019 Prayer Points
Tuesday 1 – Argentina
Martin & Julie Field pray for the ABUA national training conference (5-12 January). Peter & Terry Blowes pray that ABUA will build on gospel foundations with Christ as the cornerstone, and that the national student congress on 8 January will be marked by wise, humble discussion leading to united mission. Pray that the board’s recommendation to appoint Marcelo as National Director will be ratified. Amy Stephens thanks God for opportunities to meet one-to-one with students.
Wednesday 2 – Mexico, Bolivia & Peru
Peter & Sarah Sholl pray for a new semester beginning at the seminary where Peter teaches, that the students will be keen to grow in God’s word. Adrian & Anita Lovell give thanks for the growth of the MOCLAM team, and pray that God would raise up even more to join. Nick & Kysha Davies thank God for recent opportunities to run a MOCLAM course with young local missionaries. Grahame & Patty Scarratt thank God for the opportunity to publish gospel material in Spanish.
Thursday 3 – Chile
Chris & Stef Overhall give thanks for the GBU Chile National Camp (26 Jan – 2 Feb) and ask that God would bless the students’ time in his Word. Pray for safety in travel, and an enjoyable family break. Michael & Jo Charles pray for a decent break after Summer School before beginning work, and thank God for the encouragement and privilege of sharing there about how God has been growing his church in Chile. Gary & Julie Haddon pray for students graduating from CEP, that God will cause their ministries to prosper. Frances Cook prays for the new students beginning in CEP next year: some moving, all making big changes.
Friday 4 – Ethiopia, Kenya & Tanzania
Shane & Naomi Rubie thank God for recent peace in Ethiopia. Roger & Lynn Kay pray that children from Retrak’s six centres and the Remand Home, now reintegrated with families, will settle into family and education and persevere through challenges. Pray with Maggie Crewes that she will keep focussed on God her rock through many current demands and stresses. Norm & Janelle Gorrie pray for good follow-up from the Diocesan Youth Camp, and thank God for rains and an end of tribal clashes. Give thanks for women who are growing through Janelle’s Bible literacy program. Matthew & Samantha Archer thank God for the opportunity to share at Summer school, and pray that they will be able to stir people to follow Jesus in the year ahead.
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Saturday 5 – Tanzania
Arthur & Tamie Davis pray for TAFES National Director Mussa Kimaro as his family joins him in Dar and they look for a place to live, and schools for the children. Glen & Dominique Turner pray for a positive start to the school year, with Glen introducing a program of spiritual and team development for staff. Kevin & Karen Flanagan give thanks for the opportunity to go to a conference in Kenya attended by many fellow workers. Pray that the Lord would direct plans for church plants in Mpanda, Diocese of Lake Rukwa. Judith Calf prays for the Evangelists’ Foundation Course starting on 17 January, that God would richly bless all who are coming to learn. Pray for safe travel and care for the families over the next five months while students are studying at Good Samaritan Bible School. Mike & Katie Taylor thank God for a new year and refreshment at the Brackenhurst missionary conference. Pray that God will give them clear focus on how to serve him. Liz Burns prays for God’s continued wisdom and guidance for the future.
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Sunday 6 – Namibia, South Africa & DR Congo
Mike & Karen Roe pray that God would provide for the staffing needs at NETS, especially in leadership. Daniel & Olivia Webster pray that students would use their summer break well, with personal devotion and service of others. Kylie Zietsch thanks God for the birth of our Saviour, and for the chance for a break. Pray for her as she misses her family in Australia at this time of year, and for her time away with her friend Mphol. Nathan & Diane Lovell pray for the new students who will start on the 21st; for safe travel to Capetown and good farewells. David & Prue Boyd thank God for their return to DRC and pray that they will quickly settle back. Graham & Wendy Toulmin pray for peace and stable government in DRC.
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Monday 7 – Development & Training
SAH: Thank God and ask him to help the many new Missionaries-In-Training as they arrive and begin to do their training. Mentac: pray for good follow-up conversations with people from Summer School.
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Tuesday 8 – South East Asia
H & M pray for a good transition to M’s home province in this time of change. I asks that the semester break will give opportunity to ‘recharge the batteries’. Pray for Christian lady ‘Anita’ who is entering an arranged marriage where it is not clear the husband will allow freedom for faith. J & I pray for their children starting the school year, and for more opportunities to make Jesus known in their country and beyond. T & E give thanks for a teaching break between semesters, and for the ministry opportunities a new semester brings, and pray for preparations for national and regional conferences of the holistic development network in February. J prays that God will use the input at CMS TAS Summer conference for his purposes.
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Wednesday 9 – South East Asia
M & L thank God for leave out of country to recharge before busy months ahead. N & R pray for L as she returns to Australia for year 12, for good goodbyes and smooth settling. S gives thanks for the staff team at the language school. Pray for the Father to equip, enable and encourage each of them in their work and walk with him, growing in collegiality, confidence and conviction. N prays that in the year ahead she will have many opportunities to honour the Son. N prays that she will build good supporter relationships with her link churches.
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Thursday 10 – Cambodia
Bethany Vaughan thanks God for the nativity scene outside her house at Christmas, for contact with children through English conversation classes, and for consistent attendance at Khmer church Sunday School. Pray for the restarting of street outreach, and for people who have received audio Bibles. Wim & Maaike Prins thank the Lord for opportunities to serve in their English-speaking congregation. Pray for Maaike’s contacts Maree and Sarai, that she would share Jesus’ love with them. Craig & Samantha McCorkindale pray that in this third year of their first term in Cambodia, they would stay focussed right through until their return. Dave & Leoni Painter pray for the students of Phnom Penh Bible School (PPBS) as they prepare for first semester exams. Andrew & Liz Glover thank God for a good start to work in Phnom Penh and provision of temporary accommodation. Pray that they will find permanent accommodation soon and have wisdom in unfamiliar situations.
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Friday 11 – Indonesia, Singapore & Timor-Leste
Alan & Helen Wood thank God for three successful Christmas carols services. Pray for the leadership team as they plan for clergy changes. R prays for encouragement in language and culture learning, that he will continue to be fascinated by the culture he is in and seek to better understand it. J & D pray that they can settle back into their lives and ministries there after a short Home Assignment. Mark & Rosemary Dickens pray for the Lord’s guidance for Bishop Rennis and the search team as they look for a new vicar for St Georges. Marty & Jenny Foord pray for their first home assignment: that God would provide supporting churches and use them to enthuse God’s people for mission. Chris & Grace Adams pray for planning of church programs for the year including young adults group; leaders’ Bible study and (new) preachers’ growth group; also the launch of the Tetun Big Picture Story Bible.
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Saturday 12 – North Australia
Chris & Karen Webb give thanks for the opportunity they had to talk about Jesus over Christmas and have a bit of a family holiday. Matt & Lisa Pearson give thanks for those learning to read the Kunwinjku Bible for themselves (Eph 6:17), and ask that their family would begin the new school year with vigour and a desire to support the Gunbalanya church. Tavis & Kate Beer pray that they may continue to have good working relationships with those they serve, for God’s glory. Derek & Rosemary Snibson thank God for their warm welcome, and for beginning to learn Kriol. Wayne Oldfield & Mandy Jones pray for people living in remote communities that they will keep meeting despite the wet, and for emotional health in isolation.
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Sunday 13 – North Australia, PNG & Vanuatu
Terry & Liz McCoy thank God for opportunities to encourage people during Summer School to pray for the Aboriginal church in the NT, and pray for energy and wisdom for their visits to link churches. Matt & Kate Vinicombe pray for good goodbyes and safe travels. Keith & Marion Birchley pray for wisdom, grace and understanding as they work with the new student exec to plan the year. Joel & Tiffanie Atwood pray for government work permits for the new ministry trainees to be granted swiftly and without the usual hassle.
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Monday 14 – UAE & Jordan
K gives thanks for the women coming to English Coffee Time with Christmas in the Bible. Pray that during January they will want to keep coming and invite others, and the logistics of starting a Japanese mums and kids group in her home. J & D pray that 60-80 people would offer to be trained as 2:42 leaders. W & C give thanks for two weeks holiday at the end of January. M & C give thanks for the winter break and pray that they will have a good start to the new semester.
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Tuesday 15 – Middle East
S prays for refugees in the Middle East during this very cold month, that their needs would be met. J asks for God’s help to keep visiting locals in their homes as a top priority amongst busy work and team commitments. L continues to pray for good learning of the local language and culture. S & P pray for good relationships with their local support churches while on initial Home Assignment. L & I pray for Summer Under the Sun (SUTS) conference — for people to be envisioned to love God more and for service in God’s world.
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Wednesday 16 – Middle East
S & C for Coptic Christians who will be celebrating Christmas this month, for peace and safety during celebration, and for clear proclamation of Jesus. M prays for S, a 16 year old girl in her block of flats, that she can get to know her and have patience with her speaking “like a 3 year old”. C prays for a good ear and tongue to distinguish between the tricky sounds in the Arabic alphabet. B thanks God for a new year and prays for faithfulness in prayer and godliness, and fervour to learn and serve.
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Thursday 17 – Nepal
K & M pray for the continued provision of staff for KISC. Thank God for new believer A, who K has been discipling. I & R pray that they will be able to develop good PE programs and student support at KISC. D & E pray for health and strength as they lead and support a number of ministries. Pray that J will continue to help guide KISC through a time of transition.
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Friday 18 – Nepal & Pakistan
K (& B) pray for the hospital working with many burns patients and their families coming in over winter. B & L give thanks for their supportive family. Pray for the start of the school term and the new teacher and family settling in. G & R thank God for many visitors who have given valuable input in recent months and pray for gracious wisdom when confronted with desperate human needs. L & T pray for L as he writes up his masters thesis, and for C as he starts at a Nepali kindergarten leaving T to consider new serving options. S gives thanks for opportunity to see family in Australia over Christmas, and asks for chances to build relationship with other believers in her new neighbourhood in Pokhara. D & S pray that local Christians would experience and know the sovereignty and peace-filled security that only Jesus brings.
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Saturday 19 – South Asia
E prays that a student visa would be granted so she can start her uni language course in February. S (& T) thank God for their weekly Bible study, which has grown big enough to split into two. K prays for God’s comfort as she leaves Australia. L gives thanks for a national youth camp (23-27 January). Pray that a strong sense of community and identity in Christ would be formed among the youth, and for God to speak into their lives through the book of James. M & K are thankful for the chance to do two weeks intensive language learning in late January; pray for focus. S & I ask for stability following recent elections, so that all will live peaceful lives in godliness and promote the spread of the gospel.
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Sunday 20 – CMS Australia
Thank God for the December Missionaries Conference and the subsequent involvement of missionaries on Home Assignment at various Summer Schools around the country. Pray that these would lead to more people being involved in mission support, and considering missionary service for themselves.
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Monday 21 – France
Caroline Evenden thanks God for her French and Aussie colleagues, and prays that God will raise up more GBU staff workers to disciple students in the many uni cities currently without a staff worker. Daniel & Kate Morris pray that God would help them find university students who want to read the Bible with them and other GBU students. Josh & Susannah Apieczonek pray that God would work through his Spirit-inspired word to bring high-schoolers into his kingdom. Colin & Catherine Puffett pray for good connections as they mark six months in Nantes, noting that Australia Day provides an opportunity to welcome people into their home. Kelly Landrigan prays for an encouraging time at Summer School and for her goodbyes to family and others. M prays that God would give growth to seeds that have been sown in her language teacher and her family.
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Tuesday 22 – Italy, Ireland & Malta
Simon & Jessica Cowell pray for good reflection on their first semester of student ministry in Bari. Gillian Law prays for GBU national staff retreat and meetings at the start of February; that in all they do they’ll be prayerful, keep God’s word central, and be motivated by a desire to see uni students know Jesus. Naomi Brunacci prays for good administration and time use, and catching up one-to-one with students during January exams. Erin Moorcroft thanks God for diocesan training events with Australian-trained youth worker Ken Moser earlier this month and prays for ongoing encouragement from them. G & R pray for more people at church to step up and serve this year.
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Wednesday 23 – Austria, Germany & Slovenia
Rob & Arabelle Horne pray for a few keen individuals to assist in serving at church. Rachel Gibbs prays for the IFES Europe staff conference from 7-11 January, that the team would keep building each other up. Mimy Gardner prays for continuing good leadership in her Bible study group. Klaus & Jude Hickel thank God that their church can host the first German EMU Word in Song conference. Pray that the conference would be a blessing to all attending from German-speaking Europe. Kingsley & Veronica Box pray that God will raise up and train Slovene preachers to teach his word faithfully.
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Thursday 24 – Spain & Eurasia
Andrew & Dominique Gifford pray that God would provide a new ministry direction in Australia and guide school choices for the children. Jim & Tanja French thank God for the partnership in the gospel experienced at Summer School, and for God’s provision in 2018 both materially and spiritually as they prepare to move to Spain. Mike & Tania Snowdon pray for continued health for Tania and the baby they are expecting. John & Jodi Lovell give thanks for the opportunity to attend CMS Summer School and pray that the family will quickly settle back following their return to Valencia in mid-January. R prays that she would know how to bring the gospel to those who believe very different things.
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Friday 25 – East Asia
Ian & Narelle Hadfield pray for stability in their church leadership amidst change. Sam & Shan-Shan Chrisp thank God for time reconnecting with friends and partners in Sydney, and pray for good life rhythms as they think out family options for work and rest in their new locations. S & K thank God for strengthening J and T’s faith amidst suffering, and pray that they would grow in knowledge and depth of insight as the read the Bible. May J and T be shining lights. L prays for learning of culture and that her security would be in Christ.
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Saturday 26 – East Asia
D & T ask for peace, strength and wisdom for local church leaders who have been told that they can no longer teach the Bible in their Sunday School programs. E, sitting her first official language test, asks for wisdom, vocab retention and patience as she prepares, also as she reads the Bible in this enigmatic language. D & L pray that doors to ministry will continue to be opened. L & J thank God for the opportunity to share with supporters at SUTS. Pray that they will be encouraged by the Lord’s work, pray also for E, L and A in their first Australian school experience.
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Sunday 27 – Japan
Adam & Helane Ramsay pray for kids re-entering Japanese school, that they would be welcomed by their friends and able to catch up academically. Pray for Steven & Sandra Parsons as Sandra continues ministry to new missionaries settling into their housing in Japan. Roger & Noriko Dethlefs thank God for the chance to attend Summer School and pray for preparation for KGK camps as they return to a Tokyo winter. Nathan & Maki Clapham give thanks for the area staff overnight camp. Pray that Bible groups continue to encourage each other during busy exam times. Chenny Thie thanks God for regular opportunity to visit Tokyo Metropolitan University. Pray for more students to join the small Bible reading group of three. Matt & Jen Lim pray for ongoing follow-up with visitors who came to Eifuku Minami church for Christmas celebrations.
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Monday 28 – Japan
Dene & Rachel Hughes give thanks that sons Eliott and Simeon can attend QNNSW Summer School, and pray that they will be strengthened in faith along with their peers. Kellie Nicholas gives thanks for the opportunities to share with CMS members at Summer School and prays for preparations for return to Japan.
Brad & Michelle Jackson thank God that the ministry at Konan University has begun again. Pray for good health for Dave & Beck McIntyre, as colds and flu are rife at this time of year. Thanks for an opportunity for Dave to preach on 20 January.
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Tuesday 29 – CMS Partners
Pray for the Co-Mission Partners that CMS supports through the Mission Support Fund. Give thanks for their faith and desire to share the gospel with people. Pray for their ministries in 2019 to bring glory to God.
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Wednesday 30 – CMS Branches
NSW & ACT: Pray for Central West Missionary Exo (9-10 February) and Canberra Mission Focus (15-16 February) as supporters grow their heart for world mission. QNNSW: Pray for attendees at QNNSW Summer School, for encouragement and challenge as they hear about God’s work around the world and the need for more labourers. SANT: Thanks to God for raising up ‘K’ as a gospel worker in training for Buddhist gospel-poor SE Asia, and for church partners and supporters. Pray that she will be well-prepared at SAH. TAS: Thank God for the largest SummerView conference in years. Pray that it results in deepened commitment to local and global disciple-making. Pray for K as she prepares to depart to location in S Asia. Pray for travelling mercies for Scott Sargent in deputation, and for those enquiring about becoming CMS missionaries. VIC: Thank God for the Summer Under the Sun (SUTS) conference and pray for greater support for mission arising out of the teaching that was given. WA: Pray for ongoing sacrificial provision sufficient to send our newly approved workers to their respective locations.
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Thursday 31 – CMS Fellowship
Praise God for a new missionaries being sent out and for the missionaries-in-training who are commencing at St Andrew’s Hall. Give thanks for the prayer and financial support from churches and individuals which enables this to happen. Former Missionaries’ Fellowship: Give thanks for the life of Dorothy Tunbridge, who went to be with the Lord on 9 November 2018, aged 80; likewise for Dr John Wheeler, who departed on 12 November, aged 87.